This Day in History – October 8, 1941

Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson is born in Greenville, South Carolina

On this day in 1941, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, originally named Jesse Louis Burns, was born in Greenville, South Carolina. He would grow up to be an affluent American civil rights activist, a Baptist minister, and a Democratic politician.

Jesse L. Jackson was a candidate for the democratic presidential nomination in both the 1984 and the 1988. His eloquent command of the public attention has allowed him to take advantage of many civil rights activities. Reverend Jackson has worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and he took part in the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965.

He has also played significant roles in creating his own activist opportunities both at home and internationally. He conceived a program called P.U.S.H., or People United to Serve Humanity which began official operation on December 25th, 1971. Originally, Jackson had intended to direct Operation P.U.S.H. toward politics and to obligate politicians to make strides toward improving economic opportunities for blacks as well as poor people of all races.

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Reverend Jackson has publicly commended Obama’s decision to support gay marriage. He has compared the controversy to that of the fight against slavery and interracial marriage.

Jackson has also stated that he would be in favor of federal legislation that extends rights to those participating in same sex marriages because he believes that some states may continue to deny them equal protection and rights.

Jesse Louis Jackson has an impressive history of civil and human rights advocation. He continues to use his standing as a prominent figure to influence U.S. transition into a more tolerant and accepting state